Fruit-receiver.



G, R. SATTERBERG. l

FRUIT RBGEIVIERl APPLICATION FILED 00121-, 1912.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wiflmmo G. R. SATTERBERG.

FRUIT RECEIVER.

APPLIGATION FILED 00121. 1912.

1,121,406, l A Patented Dec. 15., 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"HE NORRIS PETERS C0., FHOTULITHL. WASHINGTON, D. C

marten sfra'rns ra'rnn'r onirica.

CARL RICHARD SATTERBERG, OF KINGSBURG, CALIFORNIA.

' renin-REcEIviin.`

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CARL R. SATTERBERG,

a citizen of the United States,` residing at `lingsburg, in the county of Fresnoy and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Receivers, of

`which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention. is toprovide a device for receiving fruit when the same is shaken or otherwise loosened from the tree.

The invention embodies, among other feavotherwise released from the tree, will not be bruised by striking the platforms, but will roll on to the blankets, after .which the edges of the blankets, are raised toroll the fruit toward and on to the platforms, the platforms being then carried to suitable receptacles and elevated so that the fruit will roll therefrom and into the receptacles.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, the trunk of a tree being shown in section to disclose the position of the platforms and blankets when arranged relatively to the tree; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8--3 in F ig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 4 4 in F ig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the views, use is made of a plurality of platforms 10,

each consisting of a rectangular frame 11 having spaced bars 12 mounted thereon and arranged to extend longitudinally thereto to form a lattice work construction, cross pieces 13 being provided for securing the bars 12 in position and reinforcing the same. The inner ends of the platforms 10 are provided with semi-circularcut away portions in which the trunk 15 of a tree is received when the platforms are mounted upon the ground so that the platforms will encircle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914;

l Application filed October 1, 1912, Serial No. 723,383.

the trunk of the tree adjacent the ground, as shown in vFig. 1.

jA series of blankets 16 aresecured to the longitudinal edges of the frames-.11 and are spread outwardly as shown in Fig'l when -the device is placed in use.

Curved supportmg members 17 are secured to the frames 11 and extend transversely over the platforms 10 to receive and support covers 18, preferably made of cloth ,and adapted to prevent the fruit, when released from the tree,

from striking the platform and thereby be` ing bruised or squashed, the said covers being spaced fromthe platforms as shown and secured rigidly at their endsto Ithe platforms by suitable cords 19. The outer ends of the platform terminate in'end pieces or extensions ltrL which not only serve as a means for holding the fruit upon the frame and vpreventing its rolling ofi' of the ends when the frame Vis carried away from beneathl the tree, but also serve to greatly strengthen the `frame at its extremities and where it is lifted to be carried away.

In the use of the device described, thev platforms 10` are first arranged beneath the tree so that the platforms will encircle the tree adjacent the ground as shown in Fig. 1 and the blankets 16 are then unfolded, as is also shown in Fig. 1. The fruit is now shaken from the tree and will fall upon the blankets, it being readily seen that the fruit will be prevented from striking the platforms and becoming bruised in view of the provision of the covers 18 for the platforms and if the fruit should strike the covers, the same will roll therefrom on to the blankets. The edges of the blankets are now gathered together and raised from the ground, thus causing the fruit to roll toward and on to the platforms 10, the mentioned blankets being folded over the covers 18, thus, together with the platforms, forming pockets in which the fruit will lie. The platforms are now separately carried to suitable receptacles and then by raising one end of each platform the fruit can be readily dumped into the receptacles. By employing a lattice work construction of the platforms, vany fruit which is of small size'or immature, together with leaves or twigs that may have dropped with the fruit on to the blankets,

will drop through the spaces formed bey receptacles, it being thus seen that in ya few operations the fruit can be gathered in large quantities and dumped into the required receptacles without necessitating a repicking or rexamination of the fruit in order to remove any dead wood, twigs, or immature l fruit.

rfhe platforms l are preferably made of wood or some other light material and the blankets 16 are preferably made of canvas,

.y the entire device being very durable and at partially around the tree vhaving the` fruit thereon', of blankets having their inner edges attached to the longitudinal edges of the platform with the said blankets unfoldable in opposite directions to cover the ground :adjacent the sides ofthe platform, spacedl `Copies of this patent may be obtained for arch-like supporting members onvthe `platform adjacent its ends, each of said archlike supporting members having a semicircular configuration, a cover carried on-"the said supporting members to cover the medial f portion of the platform with the said cover spanning said supporting members, and reinforcing'cords connected to the said supporting members and the platform whereby the cover will be held taut and assume a curved shape similar to the said supporting members, the said blankets being adaptedto arch-like supporting members when l the fruit has been received upon the blanket,v

and whereby the fruit will be disposed upon the said platform7 the curvature of the said cover being `adapted to direct any fruit which falls thereon onto the said blankets and protect the fruit from becoming bruised or mashed in the event it falls from the tree immediately over and above the platform.

In testimony whereof l afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL RICHARD sirrraiiae.

Witnesses y C. H. RosnNDAHL,

ED. PETERSON.

be folded around the cover and the said five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of` )P atents,` p

Washington, D. C. v w 

